Boys & Girls Clubs of Coachella Valley

In 1966, two dedicated businessmen who had relocated to Indio, CA, established the first Clubhouse in the Coachella Valley. Originally founded as the Boys Club of Indio, the organization was later rechartered as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Coachella Valley (BGCofCV), significantly influencing the lives of thousands of youth in the region. One founder, John Carroll, served as Indio's first Deputy District Attorney, while the other, Jim O'Brien, transitioned from being a successful commercial farmer to a prominent developer. Their unwavering commitment and dedication secured essential funding to launch Indio's inaugural clubhouse, which has since grown into four clubhouses and two satellite sites serving the communities of Indio, La Quinta, Coachella, Mecca, Thermal, North Shore, Oasis, and Bermuda Dunes.

BGCofCV serves more than 6,000 students through our four Clubhouses and two satellite sites. The eastern Coachella Valley is home to several communities marked as severely disadvantaged (SB535), where residents endure unimaginable living conditions, grappling with a lack of safe drinking water, sewer issues, and limited access to medical services. These resilient communities face a median household income ($45,011) that is 60% below the state average, while also confronting profound challenges, including environmental health hazards, inadequate infrastructure, and restricted access to essential resources and opportunities.

BGCofCV offers a variety of programs developed and tested by experts in youth development through our national parent organization, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. One of our key initiatives is Project Learn, which includes several evidence-based programs, including Power Hour, MyFuture, and diplomas2Degrees. These programs are designed to support individuals transitioning from elementary to middle school, from middle school to high school, and eventually to post-secondary education or careers in today's workforce. 

Through these programs, BGCofCV provides the necessary tools and support to facilitate these transitions smoothly. As a result, we are proud to report a 100% transition rate from middle school to high school and a 98% high school completion rate, both of which has been consistently maintained for over a decade, thanks to the effectiveness of our programs.

Testimonial

A ten-year-old club member's mother visited the BGCofCV Clubhouse seeking academic and social support for her son, who was struggling in school. He frequently got into fights, failed to complete his assignments, and had difficulty focusing in class. Additionally, tensions and arguments at home contributed to his inconsistent academic performance.

Through consistent participation in Project Learn, the club member began to experience significant improvements. At school, his teachers and staff reported a marked reduction in negative behaviors; he stopped fighting and engaged in more positive interactions with both classmates and adults. With targeted academic support tailored to his needs, his grades started to rise, and he demonstrated measurable gains in homework completion and test performance.

Beyond academics and behavior, Project Learn helped the club member address barriers in his personal life. After three years without contact, he reconnected with his father, a development that brought renewed stability and emotional support to his family. This reconnection was fostered through the Club’s emphasis on mental well-being, communication skills, emotional awareness, and positive family engagement strategies embedded in programming.